January 21, 2026
Meghan O'Toole
Julia Berkowitz releases new math textbook
Director of Academic Support Services Julia Berkowitz recently published a textbook, Fundamental Concepts of College Mathematics: Preparation for First College-Level Courses in Economics, Business, Finance, Chemistry, Biology, and Environmental Sciences.
The textbook is designed for high school and early college students seeking a solid foundation in quantitative concepts frequently encountered in introductory college-level courses in science, business, economics, and finance. It was created to address a gap in existing resources, providing a comprehensive and accessible introduction to the essential material that first-year college students need to succeed in these quantitatively rigorous courses.
“When I was asked to design and teach a math course to support students’ quantitative skills for economics, business, and finance (EBF) and pre-health interested students, I searched for a textbook that covered all of the topics students needed to master in order to progress to 100-level major courses,” Berkowitz shared. “When I couldn’t find one textbook that covered all of the required material, I began compiling pieces from several different texts.”
Gradually, this evolved into Berkowitz writing her own chapters and explaining concepts in a way that better matched her teaching style and students’ needs: “Three years later, this work culminated in a math textbook that includes both the material used in my course and additional topics that can support a more science-focused math course or a fully EBF-focused course. ”
Berkowitz hopes that students find the textbook approachable and easy to understand. Fundamental Concepts of College Mathematics can be ordered on Amazon.